Chapter Twenty Three - Return of the King
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A/N - Hiya. Sorry if that last chapter was a little short. I haven't had much time to
write due to exams these past few weeks. It will get more regular after Wednesday.
()()()()()()()()()()
The day passed far too quickly in Arian's opinion. After a quick tour of St Catherines,
she and Hoggle spent the morning in the schools old drama room helping the first
years with their Shakespeare readings. Then, after lunch, they helped to paint the set
for the end of term play. Ironically the play was entitled 'The Labyrinth' but actually
turned out to be loosely based on Theseus and the Minotaur. Arian quickly made use
of her photographic memory and managed to sketch the full panoramic she had from
her rooftop. a twinge of homesickness bubble up inside her but was quickly gone by
the time rehearsals started. The girl wished she could see the other classes but there
was no time and Sarah flatly refused to let her out of her sight.
Sarah then showed her the wonders of the supermarket. Arian was amazed how so
much food could be bought under one roof. Not even the castle kitchens had that
much stuff. They walked home along the river, crossed the bridge and stopped briefly
for ice cream. The funny thing about Mr Whippys is that they look so nice but turn out
to
be a pile of lard and stale chocolate on a stick.
Sarah could see that her new protege was becoming more nervous as the evening wore
on so she tried to distract her with technology. By nine o'clock Arian had learned how
to use the TV, the microwave, the CD player, the washing machine and Sarah's laptop.
"So it's like a modern typewriter." said Arian gazing at the faintly glowing screen.
"Whoa! Wait a minute. Do they have typewriters in the Labyrinth?" said Sarah.
"You get a lot of Aboveground contraband there but anything past the seventeenth
century is very rare." the girl explained "I found one on the black market. It cost me all
my jewellery but it was worth it."
"You are strange."
"They were just useless gifts from visiting nobles. Just metal and stone, they held no
importance. Knowledge and progress are far more precious."
"'Ere! Can ya do that magic thingy with these here letters?" asked Hoggle, now back
in his true form pointing at the keyboard. Arian carefully typed a short sentence and
the words A red apple appeared on the desk shadowed the overall whiteness of the
screen. Immediately a red apple shimmered into view by Hoggle's elbow and he ate it
gratefully.
"I'm getting much quicker at it now." said Arian happily.
()()()()()()()()()()
The night past without sleep. Arian was still dreading the morning. Nomatter how
important it was, she still did not feel ready to face her father again. And that bloody
dwarf was snoring again! She was tempted to shove a sock in his mouth but didn't
have the energy.
()()()()()()()()()()
The next morning was beautifully clear compared to the spontaneous storm the day
before. The Goblin King was already downstairs waiting patiently for the house's
inhabitants to rise. It was Arian who first immerged blearily from the living room. It
took her a full second to realise she was not alone and she jumped with surprise.
"Good Morning, Arian." said Jareth, devoid of emotion as usual.
"Hello father." the girl replied uneasily.
"You look well."
"You don't."
"I'm still a bit drained from our last encounter." the Goblin King explained. "That was
some powerful magic you were making."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I always knew you could beat me if you wished to."
Arian hesitated. Was that a genuine compliment? Perhaps even an admission of
respect? The rant she had planned the night before completely vanished from her
memory and the walls suddenly seemed stuffy and oppressive.
"Er... would you like to go four a walk?" she suggested "I think better when I'm
walking."
"So do I." said Jareth and smiled fleetingly. This was beginning to feel like the old
times again. So with the common ground in place the two wielders of magic silently
stepped through the front door and into the dull surroundings of the city...
()()()()()()()()()()
A/N - Hiya. Sorry if that last chapter was a little short. I haven't had much time to
write due to exams these past few weeks. It will get more regular after Wednesday.
()()()()()()()()()()
The day passed far too quickly in Arian's opinion. After a quick tour of St Catherines,
she and Hoggle spent the morning in the schools old drama room helping the first
years with their Shakespeare readings. Then, after lunch, they helped to paint the set
for the end of term play. Ironically the play was entitled 'The Labyrinth' but actually
turned out to be loosely based on Theseus and the Minotaur. Arian quickly made use
of her photographic memory and managed to sketch the full panoramic she had from
her rooftop. a twinge of homesickness bubble up inside her but was quickly gone by
the time rehearsals started. The girl wished she could see the other classes but there
was no time and Sarah flatly refused to let her out of her sight.
Sarah then showed her the wonders of the supermarket. Arian was amazed how so
much food could be bought under one roof. Not even the castle kitchens had that
much stuff. They walked home along the river, crossed the bridge and stopped briefly
for ice cream. The funny thing about Mr Whippys is that they look so nice but turn out
to
be a pile of lard and stale chocolate on a stick.
Sarah could see that her new protege was becoming more nervous as the evening wore
on so she tried to distract her with technology. By nine o'clock Arian had learned how
to use the TV, the microwave, the CD player, the washing machine and Sarah's laptop.
"So it's like a modern typewriter." said Arian gazing at the faintly glowing screen.
"Whoa! Wait a minute. Do they have typewriters in the Labyrinth?" said Sarah.
"You get a lot of Aboveground contraband there but anything past the seventeenth
century is very rare." the girl explained "I found one on the black market. It cost me all
my jewellery but it was worth it."
"You are strange."
"They were just useless gifts from visiting nobles. Just metal and stone, they held no
importance. Knowledge and progress are far more precious."
"'Ere! Can ya do that magic thingy with these here letters?" asked Hoggle, now back
in his true form pointing at the keyboard. Arian carefully typed a short sentence and
the words A red apple appeared on the desk shadowed the overall whiteness of the
screen. Immediately a red apple shimmered into view by Hoggle's elbow and he ate it
gratefully.
"I'm getting much quicker at it now." said Arian happily.
()()()()()()()()()()
The night past without sleep. Arian was still dreading the morning. Nomatter how
important it was, she still did not feel ready to face her father again. And that bloody
dwarf was snoring again! She was tempted to shove a sock in his mouth but didn't
have the energy.
()()()()()()()()()()
The next morning was beautifully clear compared to the spontaneous storm the day
before. The Goblin King was already downstairs waiting patiently for the house's
inhabitants to rise. It was Arian who first immerged blearily from the living room. It
took her a full second to realise she was not alone and she jumped with surprise.
"Good Morning, Arian." said Jareth, devoid of emotion as usual.
"Hello father." the girl replied uneasily.
"You look well."
"You don't."
"I'm still a bit drained from our last encounter." the Goblin King explained. "That was
some powerful magic you were making."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I always knew you could beat me if you wished to."
Arian hesitated. Was that a genuine compliment? Perhaps even an admission of
respect? The rant she had planned the night before completely vanished from her
memory and the walls suddenly seemed stuffy and oppressive.
"Er... would you like to go four a walk?" she suggested "I think better when I'm
walking."
"So do I." said Jareth and smiled fleetingly. This was beginning to feel like the old
times again. So with the common ground in place the two wielders of magic silently
stepped through the front door and into the dull surroundings of the city...